Tianhua GX-1C

Infobox Information appliance
name = Tianhua GX-1C


manufacturer = Sinomanic
type = Subnotebook
connectivity = 10/100M Ethernet ADSL modem
media = 40GB IDE hard disk
os = Linux Future Alpha
input = Keyboard
camera =
power =
cpu = Loongson I (Longxin)
memory = MCom 128MB SDRAM
display = 8.4in diagonal LCD 1280x1024/24
dimensions =

The Sinomanic Tianhua GX-1C is a specially tailored subnotebook for primary and secondary school students in mainland China. It uses China's proprietary Loongson I (Longxin) CPU. The device is designed for use as an educational aid and to introduce young students to computers.

History

Sichuan-based Sinomanic Co., Ltd. launched four models of low-cost personal computers in 2006. Sinomanic is the second manufacturer of Loongson based Personal Computers in mainland China. The company has announced a sales target of 500,000 to 1 million units for their Tianhua GX-1C model. The Sinomanic GX-1C uses a Loongson I (Longxin) CPU similar to that used in the commercially distributed Longmeng Municator from a Chinese startup named "Yellow Sheep River". Loongson (Longxin) translates as "Godson".

Sinomanic has created four different models for distribution to very specific markets. The Tianhua GX-1 and Tianhua GX-1C are marketed towards education. The Tian Yan GX-2 is a rural computer marketed towards farmers, Tian Yan is designed to be used with a television standing in for the standard computer monitor, much like the Commodore 64 and Amiga. the operating system for the Tian Yan is tailored for use with a television display. The Tianlong GX-3 is a more robust machine marketed towards business. The Tiansheng GX-4 with slightly less memory and processor speeds that vary between 400MHz and 600MHz marketed towards multimedia users. All desktop units support both VGA and Television video output.

Pricing

Sinomanic's Tianhua GX-1 and Tianhua GX-1C subnotebooks currently cost 1,998 Chinese yuan (about $290 United States dollars or £145 British pounds sterling).

inomanic model comparison table

Prices of the desktop models do not include displays

Technology

GX-1C Hardware

The reference hardware specifications as of October 28th 2006 are:
*CPU: Loongson I (Godson) 32 bit CPU - GS32I
*CPU clock speed 400MHz (32KB cache level Godson RISC Instruction Set)
*Xiancun 1280 x 1024/24 8.4 inch LCD display (TFT 24 bit color)
*MCom 128MB PC100 SDRAM
*40GB Notebook IDE hard disk
*32-bit PCI IDE controller IT8212 (two IDE channels, supports four IDE devices)
*RAID controller (supports PIO Mode 0-4, DMA mode 0-2, Ultra DMA Mode 0-6, embedded CPU RAID function)
*10/100M ethernet
*ADSL modem port
*Integrated USB 1.1 host interface
*AC97 2.2 18 48kHz Audio (maximum sampling frequency of 48kHz supports voice communications)
*Built in stereo speakers
*Stereo 2 channel audio, jacks for external stereo speakers and microphones, Line-out, and Mic-in
*Integrated keyboard
*Power source:
**unspecified notebook power supply

oftware

According to a translated FAQ on the Sinomanic website and an article on Sanhaostreet.com, Sinomanic technicians were having trouble getting Loongson's proprietary RISC instruction sets to work with Debian Linux and Windows CE. However, the use of the MIPS instruction set allowed them to correct many of their compatibility issues. [ [http://news.sanhaostreet.com/NewsData//2007/2/20072292793671.shtml 仅售1999元！龙芯笔记本预计下周开卖！-整机_笔记本__新品 ] ]

Versions of Debian Linux and Windows CE will be available for the units that ship initially. But because these operating systems cannot be optimized for Loongson's unique RISC instruction set, Sinomanic has continued development on their own second generation micro kernel operating system codenamed Future Alpha. Future Alpha has apparently been customized for compatibility with the 32 bit Loongson I (Longxin) processor. And Sinomanic recently tested an updated version of Future Alpha, for the 64 bit Loongson II microprocessor. The company said that the 64 bit version of their Future Alpha operating system had successfully passed testing on January 19, 2007. [ [http://www.trustedreviews.com/notebooks/review/2006/09/28/Intel-Classmate-PC-EXCLUSIVE/p2 Intel Classmate PC - EXCLUSIVE - TrustedReviews ] ] [ [http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/02/08/2323816.htm Sinomanic's Low-cost PC Sales Target Questioned ] ]

In a press release dated March 3rd, 2007, Sinomanic demonstrated a custom version of Debian Linux running on the Tian Yan GX-2 their rural computer. The unit appeared to be using GNOME as its Graphical user Interface. Software applications shown were: the Mozilla Firefox browser, an unnamed text editor, Gaim instant messenger, a PDF reader, and the Novell Evolution email client. [ [http://www.sinomanic.com/news_content.php?newsid=21 警告提示 ] ]

ee also

*Comparison of netbooks a comparison including similar models
*Digital Textbook a South Korean Project that intends to distribute tablet notebooks to elementary school students.
*Lemote also called "Dragon Dream" is a low-cost computer being designed in China
*OpenBook Project, a project functionally similar to the OLPC
*Simputer is an earlier project to construct cheap handheld computers in India
*VIA pc-1 Initiative a project of VIA Technologies to help bridge the digital divide.
*Wizzy Digital Courier: Internet access for rural schools via USB stick
*Edubuntu: A free Linux distribution designed specifically for use in schools and home classrooms

References

External links

*zh icon [http://www.sinomanic.com/products_content.php?productsid=3#bigimg Sinomanic GX-1C Product page]
*zh icon [http://www.sinomanic.com/product_content.php?id=28#dinggou Sinomanic GX-1 Product page]
*zh icon [http://www.sinomanic.com/ Sinomanic.com main product page]

News articles (by date)

*zh icon [http://www.sinomanic.com/news_content.php?newsid=21 Sinomanic press release: Tian Yan GX-2 running Debian Linux & using custom TV interface] March 3rd, 2007
*en icon [http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/02/08/2323816.htm TMCnet.com: Sinomanic's Low-cost PC Sales Target Questioned] February 8th, 2007
*en icon [http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/14/sinomanic-godson-based-student-laptop/ Engadget.com article] October 14th 2006
*zh icon [http://chinese.engadget.com/2006/10/12/china-sinomanic-notebook-appear/ Engadget China article] October 12th 2006